Electrical connection system formed of plinths with opposed pairs of rolls in front and back for receiving connectors

ABSTRACT

A system for assembling and connecting electrical apparatus such as relays, supervision panels, circuit cards and electrode connections, multipole contacts and the like includes cabinets having frameworks fixed or pivoted in them. Assembly frames attached to the framework carry a number of connection plinths, module determined in size, having holes arranged in pairs in rows to receive contact sockets from one side of the plinth and contact pins for direct engagement in the sockets from the other side. The pins are held in the sockets by connecting elements provided with resilient tongues arranged in recesses inside the plinth. The connection elements are common to a pair of holes, and are provided with openings in their legs which are engageable over projections on the contact pins.

United States Patent ELECTRICAL CONNECTION SYSTEM FORMED OF PLIN'I'I-ISWITH OPPOSED PAIRS OF ROLLS IN FRONT AND BACK FOR RECEIVING CONNECTORS 3Claims, 12 Drawing Fi US. Cl 317/99, 317/101 DH, 339/19 Int. Cl. 1102b1/04, HOlr 31/08 Field ofSearch ..317/99, 101

Primary Examiner-Lewis H. Myers Assistant Examiner-Gerald P. TolinAttorney-Jennings Bailey, Jr.

ABSTRACT: A system for assembling and connecting electrical apparatussuch as relays, supervision panels, circuit cards and electrodeconnections, multipole contacts and the like ineludes cabinets havingframeworks fixed or pivoted in them. Assembly frames attached to theframework carry a number of connection plinths, module determined insize, having holes arranged in pairs in rows to receive contact socketsfrom one side of the plinth and contact pins for direct engagement inthe sockets from the other side. The pins are held in the sockets byconnecting elements provided with resilient tongues arranged in recessesinside the plinth. The connection elements are common to a pair ofholes, and are provided with openings in their legs which are engageableover projections on the contact pins.

PATENTEU E 3,604,984

SHEET 2 [IF 3 INVENTOR. PER AN UREA SSEN PATENTED an 1 4:971

SHEET 3 OF 3 j jiiff INVENTOR 5/? fl/VDKEFSSE/K,

ATTORNEY ELECTRICAL CONNECTION SYSTEM FORMED OF PLINTIIS WITH OPPOSEDPAIRS OF ROLLS IN FRONT AND BACK F OR RECEIVING CONNECTORS The presentapplication is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 767,153 filed on Oct.14, I968.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The inventionrelates to a system for assembling and conne ting ele tric apparatu 2.The Prior Art Various systems are known which embody frames for theconnection of electrical apparatus in various combinations. Likewise, inapplication Ser. No.787,178 filed Dec. 26, 1968, ther is disclosed asocket arrangement for receiving and holdhis contact pins. Also,application Ser. No. 681,644, filed Nor/.9, I967, now Pat. No.3,572,043, shows an arrangement for short-circuiting a secondary circuitwhen electrical ap paratus is disconnected therefrom. The devices ofthese applications may be used in connection with or form a part of theapparatus described here n- SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE The presentinvention relates to a system for assembling and connecting electricalapparatus, such as relays and other supervision panels, circuit cardsfor electronic connections, multipole contacts and the like onstationary or pivotable frameworks in cabinets. The invention isparticularly characterized in that in assembly frames which are attachedto said framework are arranged a number of connection plinths,module-determined in size, having holes arranged in pairs in rows toreceive contact sockets from one side of the connection plinth andcontact pins which can be connected directly to these sockets from theother side. Said contact sockets or contact pins are held in theconnection plinth by means of switching elements provided with resilienttongues, arranged in recesses inside the connection plinth. There arealso a number of prefabricatedloose connection members to permit twoarbitrarily chosen switching elements to be connected togeth r withinthe assembly frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1shows a front view of an assembly frame with plinths and apparatusinserted;

FIG. la shows a section along the line AA in FIG. 1;

FIG. 1b shows a view along the line B-B in FIG. Ia

FIG. 2 shows a view from. above of an assembly frame inserted in aframework;

FIG. 3 shows the invention in use on a pivotable assembly frame;

FIG. 4 shows two variations of the connection member according to theinvention.

FIG. 5 shows in cross section one of the holding elements in position tothe plinths;

FIG. 6 shows in cross section the holding elements in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the 'element of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view of a portion of the plinth from the left-hand side ofFI FIGS. 9 and 10 show a side element and plan view respect tively of atool for removing connectors.

FIG. 1 shows an assembly frame 1 with an attachment plate 2 at each end,for attachment to a stationary or pivotable framework which will befurther described in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3. At the left end ofthe assembly frame is attached a connection plinth 3 with space for fourrelays, only one relay position, the uppermost to the left, being shownin s ntirety with holes for the contact pins on the relay mount.- ing.To the right on the plinth 3 is shown an apparatus 4 which takes up tworelay positions and below this apparatus two other apparatus 5 and 6,each taking up one relay position. Even further to the right is shownyet another apparatus 7 which takes up four relay positions.

The invention also provides the opportunity to connect cir- Gnit cardsfor electronic connections and-in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, three such circuitcards 8, 9 and 10 are shown. In the field to the right of the Circuitcards is shown uppermost a plinth 11 for connection of out and in-goingconnections to apparatus which comprises both out and in-going signalcommunications and current delay. The apparatus required for a certainpurpose, for example control of a tool machine, 'may be so few that theycan be placed in a single assembly frame, whereas in another caseseveral frame units may be required to accommodate all the necessaryapparatus. In the latter case the various assembly frame units areconnected together to form a single unit with the help of cables. Theconnecting cables between the various units are designated 13 and 14 inFIGS. 2 and 3 and are connected to the plinth 11 by means of outputterminals 18 and 19.

In order to avoid all risks of short circuiting and damage to personneldue to a cable which has been taken out of its position in the plinth,the conductors in the output terminals 18 and 19 terminate in contactsockets which are set into the output terminal so that they are notdirectly accessible. The plinth 11 is then equipped with contact pins.Since all the apparatus arranged on the assembly frame are voltagelesswhen the output terminals are withdrawn, short circuiting of the contactpins in the plinth 11 when the output terminals are removed cannot cau eany damage.

FIG. 2 shows how the assembly arm 1 is attached in a framework, onlypartly shown in the figure, by means of an angle iron 16. Thisattachment method is used when the framework is permanently mounted in acabinet and the assembly frames are arranged near the front of thecabinet with the apparatus, etc. set in.

FIG. 3 shows an assembly frame with apparatus in position and havingconnections similar to those shown in FIGS. 1 and ,2, but where theframework is such that the back of the connection plinths is accessibleso that desired switches can be made. The details shown have been giventhe same designations as in FIGS. 1 and 2. The framework also has asuitably transparent front pl t 17.

FIG. 4 shows two examples of the connection members which according tothe invention are necessary to effect the desired connection between theapparatus within an assembly frame. The connection member consists of aninsulated condoctor 20 which at each end has either a contact pin 21 ora contact socket 22, It is of course also possible to have a contact pinat one end and a contact socket at the other. The length of theconductor 20 should be so great that it can connect any two apparatuswithin the assembly frame, which means that the length must be at leastequal to the length of he diagonal of the assembly frame.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show three such connection members 25, 26 and 27. Ofthese, the connection member 25 connects a conncction point in theconnection plinth 3 to a point in the plinth 11. The connection member26 connects the circuit card 10 to the plinth 11 and the connectionmember 27 connects the ap paratus 4 with the circuit card 9. As can beseen from what has been previously stated concerning the appearance ofthe connection member, the connection members 25 and 26 should have acontact pin at the end which is connected to the plinth I1 and a contactsocket at each end. Switches can be made within the plinth 11 withconnection members having contact pins on both ends. The connectionplinths attached to the as.- sembly frames can be opened in known mannerand consist of an upper part which forms a lid over the lower part. Asseen from FIG. 1 uppermost to the left and from the plinth 11 on theright of the figure, the lid is provided with a number of holes 30arranged in pairs. In the figures these holes are shown only for anormal relay position. The corresponding relay mounting is normallyprovided with a contact pin for each pair of holes in the connectionplinth, but, if extra ensurance against poor Contact between pin andsocket is desired, pairs of contact pins may be inserted in the relaymounting which are connected to each other within the relay.

The bottom part of the connection plinth is provided with a hollow undereach pair of holes in the lid. In this hollow is an element 31 which bymeans of resilient tongues forms an attachment member for contactelements inserted at the back of the plinth, which is shown in FIGS. 5and 6 and described below. The contact elements are held in position byan annular flange 23 shown in FIG. 4 on the contact elements 21 and 22,which engages in notches 38 in two cooperating resilient tongues on theelement 31 when the contact element is inserted in the contact mounting.When a connection member 20, 21, 22 is to be removed from the connectionplinth, a releasing member to be described below is inserted at the sideof the contact element so that the resilient tongues are pressed apartand thus release their grip on the flange 23.

The element 31 also comprises a transverse part which electricallyconnects a contact element inserted at the back of the plinth in aposition corresponding to one of a pair of holes to another contactelement similarly inserted in a position corresponding to the other holein a pair of holes in the lid of the mounting. It is thus possible in anextremely simple manner to obtain two connections at the back of theplinth for a single contact element inserted at the front of the plinth.Contact pins are preferably used on the apparatus inserted at the frontof the connection plinth and contact sockets on the connection membersinserted at the back of the plinth. The extra terminal obtained at theback of the plinth may, for example, be used to sense the voltagecondition of the plug in question and may be connected to a data machinefor continuous supervision, or the like.

Referring now to FIGS. 6-9, FIG. 9 shows from the left the square holes36 in the plinth, through which the ends of the connecting elements 21and 22 are inserted. When these pins are inserted, for example theelements 22, the shoulders 23, engage in the openings 38 in the members31, so that the connecting members are then locked in position.

The element 31 in addition to the notches 38 has openings 40 in itscross piece, side by side, these openings being positioned opposite theholes 30.

When a socket member such as 22 is inserted through the openings 36, theshoulder 22 will push apart the resilient legs of the member 32 until itcomes opposite the openings 38, whereupon the retaining element willhold the socket against withdraw. If now one of the pins 21 isintroduced through the holes 30, into which the socket member 22extends, it will engage in the socket member and be resiliently grippedby it.

In some cases, the arrangement may be reversed, with the pins 21 beinginserted through holes 36 and the socket members into holes 30.

In any event, at least some of the members 20 are long enough to extendacross the diagonal sides of the assembly so that any two holes can beconnected. Obviously if two socket members are inserted through theholes 36 common to the members 31, the connectors 20 of these socketmembers will be connected to each other, so that two connections can bemade from a single pin inserted in the hole 30.

The device for releasing the sockets or pins from the holding member 31is shown in FIGS. and 11. This is a member 42, preferably made ofplastic, having a thin tongue 44 extending from one end. The width ofthe tongue 44 is substantially equal to the width of one of the openings36. If this member is inserted into the opening 36, it passes on theinside of one of the tongues of the holding element 31 and deforms itsufficiently to allow the shoulder 33 of the socket or pin memberinserted in the opening to escape from the notches 38, whereupon it canbe pulled out of the plinth.

The plinths are modulated on a basis of a single value such a 7millimeters, that is all dimensions are multiples of 7 millimeters. Inthis way various types of electromechanical and electrical devices suchas relays, motors, time relays, electrical reclosers, synchronousmotors, remote control and protection devices can be connected into asingle assembly.

The method of making connections is uniform through the system. All thewiring connections can be made from the backside of the plinth, and thenthe equipment is blocked in.

This is possible because the pins or sockets are already held in by thelocking elements 31.

The invention has many great advantages. Due to the module systemapparatus such as relays, electronic cards, etc., can be arranged in themost suitable manner and can easily be replaced. The connection membersat the back' of the assembly frame provide the greatest possibleflexibility as regards connections between different members andapparatus within the frame and connections between different members andapparatus within the frame and connection of units arranged on otherassembly frames. Also, the switching elements and the loose connectionmembers arranged in the connection plinths permit connection of any ofthe connected apparatus for connection to a data machine.

I claim:

1. A system for assembling and connecting electrical apparatus on frameworks comprising an assembly frame, a plurality of connection plinthsmodule-detennined in size on the assembly frame, each plinth comprisinga lower part and said upper part having holes therein arranged in pairsin rows constituting means to receive contact members inserted in theplinth from the lower side and from the upper side, each pair of holesin the upper part being situated opposite a corresponding pair of holesin the lower part, said lower part being provided with enclosure meansforming a hollow opposite each pair of holes in the lower part, aconnection element in each of said hollows, each connection elementhaving a pair of resilient tongues, each connection element beingarranged opposite two holes in the lower part and constituting anengaging and holding member for a contact member inserted in the plinthfrom the bottom side, a number of flexible connection members, eachconnection member comprising an electrical conductor provided with acontact element at each of its ends, said resilient tongues and saidcontact elements having cooperating means thereon for releasably holdingto said contact elements in the holes.

2. A system according to claim 1, in which the assembly frame is ofrectangular shape, the length of the conductor of said connection memberbeing at least equal to the diagonal of said frame.

3. A system according to claim 1, in which the contact elements includemeans operable when the contact elements are inserted into the holes inthe upper and lower parts to engage with and be in electrical contactwith each other.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO.3,604,984

DATED I September 14, 1971 lNvENTORtS) 1 Per Andreassen It is certifiedthat error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claim 1: Line 4, after "and" insert -an upper part in the form of a lidover the lower part, said lower part and-.

Signed and Scaled this RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Office(ommrmrmrer nj'larenrs and Trademarks

1. A system for assembling and connecting electrical apparatus on frameworks comprising an assembly frame, a plurality of connection plinthsmodule-determined in size on the assembly frame, each plinth comprisinga lower part and said upper part having holes therein arranged in pairsin rows constituting means to receive contact members inserted in theplinth from the lower side and from the upper side, each pair of holesin the upper part being situated opposite a corresponding pair of holesin the lower part, said lower part being provided with enclosure meansforming a hollow opposite each pair of holes in the lower part, aconnection element in each of said hollows, each connection elementhaving a pair of resilient tongues, each connection element beingarranged opposite two holes in the lower part and constituting anengaging and holding member for a contact member inserted in the plinthfrom the bottom side, a number of flexible connection members, eachconnection member comprising an electrical conductor provided with acontact element at each of its ends, said resilient tongues and saidcontact elements having cooperating means thereon for releasably holdingto said contact elements in the holes.
 2. A system according to claim 1,in which the assembly frame is of rectangular shape, the length of theconductor of said connection member being at least equal to the diagonalof said frame.
 3. A system according to claim 1, in which the contactelements include means operabLe when the contact elements are insertedinto the holes in the upper and lower parts to engage with and be inelectrical contact with each other.